List of 26 best universities in South Africa

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Top 26 universities in South Africa ranked by EduRank based on research outputs, non-academic prominence, and alumni influence. The rankings are determined by analyzing 13.4M citations received by 661K academic publications made by 26 universities from South Africa, the popularity of 842 recognized alumni, and the largest reference database available.

1. University of Cape Town

Cape Town

#1 in Africa

#239 in the World

Founded: 1874

2. University of the Witwatersrand

Johannesburg

#2 in Africa

#392 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Founded: 1922

3. University of Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch

#3 in Africa

#422 in the World

Founded: 1918

4. University of Pretoria

Pretoria

#4 in Africa

#430 in the World

Enrollment: 48,174
Founded: 1908

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

Durban

#6 in Africa

#610 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 2004

6. University of Johannesburg

Johannesburg

#9 in Africa

#808 in the World

Enrollment: 49,910
Founded: 2005

7. University of South Africa

Pretoria

#10 in Africa

#875 in the World

Enrollment: 420,000
Founded: 1873

8. North-West University

Potchefstroom

#12 in Africa

#952 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 2004

9. Rhodes University

Makhanda

#15 in Africa

#1070 in the World

Enrollment: 8,200
Founded: 1904

10. University of the Western Cape

Bellville

#17 in Africa

#1137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 24,754
Founded: 1959

11. University of the Free State

Bloemfontein

#18 in Africa

#1153 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Enrollment: 37,000
Founded: 1904

12. Nelson Mandela University

Port Elizabeth

#31 in Africa

#1787 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Founded: 2005

13. Durban University of Technology

Durban

#41 in Africa

#2266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Founded: 2002

14. Tshwane University of Technology

Pretoria

#42 in Africa

#2301 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Founded: 2003

15. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

Cape Town

#43 in Africa

#2337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Enrollment: 35,047
Founded: 2005

16. University of Fort Hare

Alice

#59 in Africa

#2814 in the World

Enrollment: 11,074
Founded: 1916

17. University of Limpopo

Mankweng

#64 in Africa

#3013 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1959

18. University of Zululand

Kwadlangezwa

#90 in Africa

#3567 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Founded: 1960

19. University of Venda

Thohoyandou

#102 in Africa

#3752 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1982

20. Vaal University of Technology

Vanderbijlpark

#117 in Africa

#3968 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Founded: 1966

21. Central University of Technology

Bloemfontein

#123 in Africa

#4096 in the World

Founded: 1981

22. Walter Sisulu University

Mthatha

#145 in Africa

#4553 in the World

Founded: 2005

23. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

Pretoria

#162 in Africa

#4880 in the World

Enrollment: 5,000
Founded: 2014

24. Mangosuthu University of Technology

Durban

#210 in Africa

#5749 in the World

Founded: 1979

25. University of Mpumalanga

Nelspruit

#448 in Africa

#9492 in the World

Enrollment: 2,500
Founded: 2014

26. Sol Plaatje University

Kimberley

#459 in Africa

#9658 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 3,000
Founded: 2013

The best cities to study in South Africa based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cape Town, Johannesburg, Stellenbosch, and Pretoria.

Average cost of living for students in South Africa is $480 + $69-492 for rent (depends on where to live: dormitory, renting with a roommate or solo).